Greenland police bringing tribute to Chief Maloney to D.C.

GREENLAND — The town's Police Department is gearing up for what is expected to be an emotional and powerful trip next week to Washington, D.C. for National Police Week.

Joey Cresta

GREENLAND — The town's Police Department is gearing up for what is expected to be an emotional and powerful trip next week to Washington, D.C. for National Police Week.

The entire department save one part-time officer will be traveling to the nation's capital for a series of events starting Sunday, May 12 that attract tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the country. The trip will culminate in the 32nd National Peace Officers' Memorial Service held on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Wednesday morning.

“I think it will be a big year, especially for the Seacoast,” Police Chief Tara Laurent said, because many local representatives will be attending the events to pay homage to her predecessor, the late Greenland Police Chief Michael Maloney.

Maloney is one of 143 officers whose names will be added this year to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, which commemorates police officers who died in the line of duty.

Maloney was killed eight days before retirement on April 12, 2012 during a drug raid gone bad at a home on Post Road in Greenland. He has been hailed as a hero for his efforts to help remove wounded officers from the N.H. attorney general's Drug Task Force from the scene after alleged drug dealer Cullen Mutrie greeted them with gunfire when they went to his home to execute a warrant.

More than a year later, the events in Washington will give police a chance to honor Maloney, Laurent said. One tradition at the memorial is for the fallen officer's department to leave behind an unhinged door from a patrol vehicle signed by loved ones.

The door, signed by members of the Greenland Police Department, Maloney's family and other police officers from around the region, currently sits in Laurent's office. She said the Crown Victoria door was donated by local business owners Bill Millar and Maria Caton from Reflections Auto Paint & Bodyworks.

Reflections painted the door the silver color of Greenland's cruisers and added decals to make it into a perfect replica, including Maloney's cruiser number 103 and his call number 260 in white set against a black background with a blue line running through it.

The door is covered in messages from those who loved Maloney, saying things like “you are truly missed” and “although you passed through many people's lives I'm glad you took the time to pause in mine.”

The events in Washington unofficially begin Sunday afternoon when the Police Unity Tour, a bicycle ride inspired by the motto “We ride for those who died,” arrives in the city. Some officers from New Hampshire will be among the participants who biked from Ground Zero in New York City to Washington, Laurent said.

Other events include a candlelight vigil Monday night, a New Hampshire night Tuesday hosted by legislators from the Granite State and the memorial service Wednesday.

The N.H. Night reception will be held at the American Legion Kenneth H. Nash Post 8 and all police officers from New Hampshire are invited, according to the office of Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., which is also taking the Greenland Police Department on guided tours of the Capitol.

“I'm honored to help host New Hampshire's law enforcement officers during National Police Week,” Ayotte said in an e-mail. “This year's ceremonies will hold special meaning for our state as Greenland Police Chief Michael Maloney's name is added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial at Judiciary Square.”

Laurent said her department's flight and hotel accommodations are being paid for thanks to the generosity of those who helped raise funds at a number of community events. A St. Patrick's Day benefit in Maloney's name at Locals Restaurant in North Hampton raised more than $10,000, the Central School's talent show raised $1,600 and many others donated funds to the trip, she said.

Officers from the Rockingham County sheriff's office and N.H. State Police will be covering the town while the officers are away, she said.

Editor's note: Staff reporter Joey Cresta will be in Washington, D.C. to provide coverage of the events during National Police Week between Sunday, May 12 and Wednesday, May 15.

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